Snap cap structure



' A ril 30, 1940- w. c. BRENNEMAN SNAP CAP STRUCTURE Filed April 14, 1939 I I jwcmm waflienneman Patented Apr. 30, 1940 UNITED STATES SNAP CAP STRUCTURE William G. Brenncman, Huntingdon, Pa.

Application April 14, 1939,, Serial No. 267,930

3 Claims.

This invention relates to a snap cap structure designed primarily for employment with collapsible tubes, but it is to be understood that a cap structure, in accordance with thisinvention is for use in connection with any form of container ior which it may be found applicable.

The invention has for its object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a pivotaily mounted latchable cap structure for connection with the breast of a container provided with a neck and with the structure including means for coaction with said neck for latching such structure in sealing position relative to the container and with said means capable of being shifted expeditiously to and from latched position.

- Theinvention has for its further object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a pivoted snap cap structure including a cap member having a rim portion provided with an internal groove spaced from the inner end of such portion for slidably supporting an extendible and contractible latching element for coaction with the neck of a container for latching said structure in closing relation with respect to the container.

Further objects of the invention are to provide, in a manner as' hereinafter set forth, a snap cap structure for. the purpose referred to which is simple in its construction and arrangement, strong, durable, compact, readily installed with respect to a container, thoroughly efiicient in its use, and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture.

Embodying the objects aforesaid and other which may hereinafter appear, the invention con- 3-: sists of the novelconstruction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be more specifically referred to and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein is shown an embodiment of the invention, but it is to be understood that changes, in variations and modifications may be resorted to which fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

A snap cap structure in accordance with this invention is designed primarily for use of tubes 45 containing toothpastes, cream for any purpose,

Figure 2 is a section on line 22 Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a fragmentary view of the container andcap structure in vertical section and upon an enlarged scale, and

Figure 4 is a view in elevation looking towards d the pivoted side of the cap member.

With reference to the drawing, i generally indicates a container including a breast 2 at the upper end of a body part 3. Disposed axially of, connected to and extending from the breast 2 ii) is an outlet neck i. The neck 5 is outwardly divergent, thereby forming an inverted conical section the perimeter of which forms a smooth line. Connected at its inner ends, to the outer face of the breast 2, adjacent the perimeter of m the latter and intersected centrally by the vertical median of the breast 2 is the inner end or base 5 of a U-shaped support or yoke t. The sides or arms of the support t are of like form, disposed in parallel spaced relation and indicated at l. The arms i in proximity to their outer ends are formed with aligned openings t for a purpose to be referred to.

The snap cap structure includes a cap member which is generally indicated at 9 and it includes it a circular body part iii having its inner face merginginto an annular rim ii of less diameter than and arranged coaxially with the body part it. Integral with the innerface of body part it and the outer face of the rim ii is laterally extending arm it formed in proximity to its outer end with an opening it. The inner face of body part ii] is formed with a circularrecess it having its side wall forming a flush continuation of the inner face of the rim i i. The inner diameter of the rim ii and the diameter of the recess it is slightly greater than the diameter of the outer end of the neck 6. The rim ii is formed on its inner face 15 with an inwardly opening annular groove it of square contour in vertical section. The groove it is spaced from the inner end surface ll of rim ii and also from the point of mergence of the rim i i with the inner face of body part in. The groove is disposed equi-distant from said inner end surface ii and said as point of mergence. The cap member 9 may be constructed of any suitable material preferably Bakelite.

The snap cap structure includes a pivot it for the cap member 9, and in this connection it will be stated that the arm i2 has its outer terminal portion arranged between the arms I of the support 6. The opening it of arm [2 is to align with the openings 5 of the arms i and. the pivot i8 is positioned in the aligned openings 8, l3. The

' outer faces of the arms 1. The member 6, pivot i8, arm l2, when assembled provide a hinge connection between the cap member 9 and container l.

The snap cap structure includes an extendible and contractible latching element 20 which coacts with the neck 4 for latching the cap member 9 in closing relation with respect to the neck. The member 20 is in the form of an annular split spring 2| loosely mounted in and extended from the groove Hi to encompassing relation with respect to the neck 4. The inner side of element ,20 coacts with the outer periphery of the tapered neck, 4 for releasably securing cap member! to said neck.

The snap cap structure includes a sealing element M for the upper end of neck 4. The element 2| is of an annular form and of an outer diameter of any suitable material preferably cork. The closure 2|" is of a diameter to snugly fit the wall of the recess I4 throughout. The element 2| is of a thickness to extend into and snugly fit a portion of the inner face of rim II in close proximity to the point of mergence of rim II with body part II). The body of the ele-; ment 2| in transverse cross-section is of greater length than the body of the neck 4 in transverse cross-section. When the cap member 9 is latched to the container the element 2|- is in sealing position and in such position it seats on the upper edge of the neck 4, bears against 'the base and wall of recess I 4, bears against the inner face of rim H and extends inwardly from the top edge of the neck 4.. The element 21 is permanently carried by the cap member 9.

The overhang of body part It) with respect to the rim ll facilitates the shifting of cap member 9 from latched position'to open the container.

. Preferably the edge 22 of body part III will be milled as shown.

What I claim is:

1. In a latchable snap cap structure for containers, a container neck, said neck being outwardly divergent, thereby forming an inverted conical section the perimeter of which forms a smooth line, a cap member including a body part for opposing in laterally extended relation the outer end of the neck and an annular rim integral with the inner face of and inset relatively to said body part, said rim for encompassing in spaced relation said neck and having its inner face formed with an annular groove of square cross-section, an arm integral with a part of the inner face of laterally extended portion of said body part and the outer face of the rim and extending laterally from the edge of said member, means for hinging the outer end of the arm with the breast of the container of which said neck forms a part, and an extendible and contractible latching means slidably mounted in said groove in the form of a split annulus, said means having a continuous portion corresponding to the length thereof normally extended from the said groove for encompassing and for engaging and coacting with a part of the outer side face of the neck for latching the cap member in closing relation with respect to the neck.

2. In a latchablesnap cap structure for containers, a container neck, said neck being outwardly divergent, thereby forming an inverted conical section the perimeter of which forms a smooth line, a cap member including a body part outer end of the neck and an annular rim integral with the inner face of and inset relatively to said body part, said rim for encompassing in spaced relation said neck and having its inner face formed with an annular groove of square cross-section, an arm integral with a part of the inner face of laterally extended portion of said body part and the outer face of the'rim and extending laterally from the edge of said member, means for hinging the outerend of the arm with the breast of the container of which said neck forms a part, an extendible and contractible latching means slidably mounted in-said groove in the form of a split annulus, said means having a continuous portion corresponding to the length thereof extended normally from the said groove for encompassing and for engaging and coacting with a part of the outer side face of the neck for latching the cap member in closing relation with respect to the neck, said body part having its lower face formed with a recess,

the inner face of said rim forming a continuation of the wall of said recess, and an annular sealing element abutting the base of the recess and snugly engaging with said wall and the inner face of the rim and for bearing on the top edge of said neck when the cap memberis in closing position.

.for opposing in laterally extended relation the 3. In a latchable snap cap structure for containers, a container neck, said neck being outwardly divergent, thereby forming an inverted conical section the perimeter of which forms a smooth line, a cap member including a body part for opposing in laterally extended relation the outer end of the neck and an annular rim integral with the inner face of and insetrelatively to said body part, said rim for encompassing in spaced relation said neck and having its inner face formed with an annular groove of square cross-section, an arm integral with a part of the inner face of laterally extended portion of said body part-and the outer face of the rim and extending laterally from the edge of said member, means for hinging the outer end of the arm with the breast of the container of which said neck forms a part, an extendible and contractible latching means slidably mounted in said groove in the form of a split' annulus, said means having a continuous portion corresponding to the length thereof normally extended from the said groove for encompassing and for engaging and coacting with a part of the outer side face of the neck for latching the cap member in closing relation with respect to-the neck, said body the inner face of said rim forming a continuation of the wall of said recess, and an annular sealing element abutting the base of the recess and snugly engaging with said wall and the inner face of the rim and for bearing on the top edge of said neck when the cap member is in closing position, the body of said sealing element in transverse cross-section being of greater length than the transverse cross-sectional length of the body of ,the neck whereby said element when in sealing position will extend laterally from the inner face of the neck.

WILLIAM C. BRENNEMAN. 

